02.10.25 Selectboard Draft Minutes

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GUILFORD SELECTBOARD MEETING

Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m., 236 School Road, Guilford, VT

SELECTBOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Verandah Porche, Michael Becker, Tara Cheney,  Mike Szostak

STAFF PRESENT: Erika Elder

PRESENT IN PERSON: Steve Lembke, Jeannette Tokarz, Kyle Parker, Dolores Clark

PRESENT VIA ZOOM: Don McLean, David Hall, Sheila Morse, Andy and Elise Burrows, Sheila Adams

Draft Minutes

  1. Call to Order by Verandah at 6:30 pm 
  1. Rules of Procedure read by Mike S.
  1. Changes to Agenda Order (none)
  1. Public Comment, Announcements (none)
  1. Approval of Minutes
    1. Minutes of the regular meeting of 01.27.25
      MOTION:  Mike S. moved and Verandah seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
    2. Minutes of the special  meeting of 01.30.25
      MOTION: Verandah moved and Mike S. seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
  1. Finance  
  2. Warrants    
Payroll – WE 02.02.25$9,458.07
Payroll – WE 02.09.25$9,967.11
Expense Warrant #2515$38,448.97
Expense Warrant #2515T$1,496.46
TOTAL$59,370.61

MOTION: Tara moved to pay the warrants as written. Michael B seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.

  1. Updates and Reports
    1. Town Administrator (5 minutes)
      Erika: Gazette is out – on site & in mail. Town Report Done! Posted on site, mails out this week. Town Meeting tables available. Responded to a large Public Records Request. Legal review of MOU for Emergency Shelter – PACIF sent model. Legal Review for Agreement for Portable Power Loan from EMD. Took Ethics training from State Ethics Commission. Acknowledge that we recd on Feb. 3 Legal Notice of temporary Restraining order regarding the Funding Pause the President ordered for Federal Funding. VT is plaintiff in lawsuit. This could impact state and town’s finances, particularly Highway.

Helped WRC Mapping class 4 road – Uriel pulled surveys. Met with Historical Society – to continue conversation about building repairs

  1. Highway Commissioner (not present)
    Erika: Another snow storm over the weekend. Three crew members out sick. Allen Bellville filled in.
  1. Old Business
    1. New State Ethics Rules and Requirements
      Code of Ethics Ordinance Discussion
    2. Appointment of Republicans to BCA per 17 VSA § 2143
      MOTION: Verandah moved to appoint Lyle Howe and AJ Bellville to BCA. Tara seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
    3. Town Meeting Prep DISCUSSION 
      1. Pre-Town Meeting

Note: Borrow some chairs for Town Meeting. Verandah: RSVP Sign-up online for childcare

  1. New Business
    1. Planning Commission
      1. Planning Grant
        Jeannette: Annual, competitive grant up to $30,000. Citizen participation is required. No match requirement for Guilford because we have no zoning or bylaws. Planning guide growth process from a regulatory standpoint. Dolores Clark asked how this is different from ARPA grant. Verandah: Erika to attach documentation to the minutes of this meeting
      2. Selectboard Liaison to Planning Commission
        Verandah: Mike S has volunteered.
        MOTION: Verandah moved and Tara seconded to appoint Mike S. as Selectboard Liaison to the Planning Commission. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed.
    2. Welcome to Algiers Sign
      Verandah: Kyle brought this to the SB last year. Kyle: will seek permission from landowner. Next step will be design of a new sign. 
  2. Professional Audit Engagement FY25 [per Guilford Procurement of Goods and Services Policy] DISCUSSION
  1. Other Business 

Tara: Blurb on site for candidates to come to pre-town. Make a program for candidates 

  1. Correspondence (none)
  2. Public Comment
    Dolores Clark: Ethics: Executive session not transparent. Asks Erika about Historical Society. Algiers, parking on Center Road. Tontine building hasn’t been plowed. WWHT not clearing.
    Tara: responds about ethics.  
  3. Actions from 01.27.25 Meeting
    1. Approved 1.13.25 minutes
    2. Approved Warrants
    3. Appointed Dave Eastman as WSWMD rep
    4. Adopted Delinquent Tax policy
    5. Approved FY26 Budget Proposal
    6. Approved Town Meeting Articles and Warning
    7. Approved Ethics Comm Liaisons Erika Elder & Uriel Najera
    8. Appointed Barry Aleshnick to Algiers Traffic & Safety Committee
    9. Appointed Katie Shea to Conservation Commission
  1. Action Taken
    1. Approved Minutes of 01.27.25
    2. Approved Minutes of 01.30.25
    3. Approved Warrants
    4. Appointed Two Republicans to BCA
    5. Appointed Mike S. as Planning Liaison
  1. Actions to be Taken

Verandah: Continue research on new  ethics rules

  1. Adjournment

MOTION: Michael B moved to adjourn  and Tara seconded. Vote was by voice. All were in favor. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:34 pm.

Next meeting is 2.24.25 at 6:30 pm.

Meeting Video: https://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-selectboard/guilford-selectboard-mtg-2-10-25/

Planning Grant Materials:

FY 2025 Municipal Grant Program

CPR-MPG-Resolution-Form